China is about to break another engineering record with the debut of the world’s tallest bridge, the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, slated to open in the second half of 2025. Towering an astonishing 2,051 feet above the river, this steel truss suspension bridge will dwarf France’s Millau Viaduct by nearly 947 feet.
Bridging the Earth Crack in Guizhou
The bridge is currently 95% complete and sits in Guizhou, a province in southwest China known for its rugged and mountainous terrain. It spans the Huajiang Grand Canyon, also nicknamed the “earth crack” for its dramatic geography.
Due to its remote and uneven landscape, Guizhou has long faced infrastructure challenges. The new bridge is more than just a marvel — it’s a crucial part of China’s ongoing effort to improve connectivity in underdeveloped regions. When completed, it will slash the travel time across the canyon from two hours to just one minute, greatly enhancing local transportation and logistics.
An Engineering Marvel: Design and Scale
Built using a steel truss suspension design, the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge stretches a total length of 9,482 feet. Its enormous steel structure weighs approximately 22,000 tons — equivalent to the weight of three Eiffel Towers.
According to Zhang Shenglin, chief engineer of Guizhou Highway Group, the project is scheduled to officially open to traffic by the second half of 2025. In an interview with China Daily, Zhang said:
“By then, this super project that spans the ‘earth crack’ will be the world’s first in both directions. It will become another landmark project to demonstrate China’s infrastructure strength.”
Guizhou: Home to Many of the World’s Tallest Bridges
Impressively, nearly half of the world’s top 100 tallest bridges are located in Guizhou. The region’s complex topography has turned it into a hub for extreme bridge construction, making it a living showcase of China’s mastery in infrastructure development.
This latest project underscores China’s national emphasis on closing regional development gaps through high-tech engineering and modern transportation systems. It’s also part of a broader narrative positioning China as a global leader in bridge-building excellence.
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